IP Library Granted Patent US 8,435,109
Granted Patent B2
US 8,435,109 · App. 12/396,296 · Granted May 7, 2013

Gaming machine with mechanical reel rotatable through player's operation and confirmation method of symbol

Inventor: Kazumasa Yoshizawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,435,109
App. No.
12/396,296
Granted
May 7, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The gaming machine includes: a game requiring a player's bet; a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate; a plurality of symbols on the reel; a display capable of generating a video image; an input device which receives an input by the player; and a controller which is programmed to carry out the steps of: (a1) receiving an input inputted through the input device; (a2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and (a3) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

Claims (87)

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player's bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate:

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of:

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted; and

in the step (a1),

when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to one symbol;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

2. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player's bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate:

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of:

(e1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(e2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(e3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted;

(e4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of tapping, and

in the step (a1),

stopping the reel after rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of times input has been conducted;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted; and

successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player's bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player; and

a controller that is programmed to operate:

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of:

(b1) receiving an input inputted through the input device;

(b2) when the input is a rotation command related to the reel, determining whether the rotation command is inputted through tapping or continuous pressing;

(b3) when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(b4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted; and

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

4. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player's bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate:

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of;

(c1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(c2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(c3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to a reel is inputted and counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

stopping the reel after rotating the reel in a direction indicated by the direction symbol by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the step of:

(c6) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

6. A gaming machine comprising:

a game requiring a player's bet;

a reel used in the game and mechanically driven to rotate;

a plurality of symbols on the reel;

an input device that is disposed to visibly cover at least the reel and receives an input through a press operation by the player;

a display capable of generating a video image; and

a controller that is programmed to operate:

(a1) to rotate the reel based on an input position in the input device,

wherein the reel is mechanically driven to rotate and whose rotation direction is switchable, and

wherein the controller is further programmed to carry out the steps of:

(d1) displaying a video image of a direction symbol indicating a rotation direction of the reel;

(d2) specifying an input position in the input device;

(d3) when the input position corresponds to a display position of the direction symbol, determining that a rotation command related to the reel is inputted;

(d4) when the rotation command is inputted through tapping, counting the number of rotation commands inputted, and

in the step (a1),

rotating the reel by an amount equivalent to the number of symbols corresponding to the number of rotation commands inputted;

when the rotation command is inputted more than once, rotating the reel at rotation speed corresponding to an interval between rotation command inputs;

when the rotation command is inputted through continuous pressing, rotating the reel while the rotation command is being inputted;

(d5) successively displaying, on the display, a video image of at least one of the symbols on the reel in sync with the rotation of the reel.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 1, 2011
From: ARUZE CORP.
To: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027309/0876 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2009
From: YOSHIZAWA, KAZUMASA
To: ARUZE CORP.
Reel/Frame 022341/0320 →
Continuity (6)
Provisional Application 61037489 · Mar 18, 2008
Provisional Application 61035176 · Mar 10, 2008
Provisional Application 61038612 · Mar 21, 2008
Provisional Application 61035873 · Mar 12, 2008
Provisional Application 61038643 · Mar 21, 2008
Related Publication 20090227353A1 · Sep 10, 2009